Foot (incl. plantar fasciitis, flat feet) Board decisions

The Veteran's death was not caused by or related to his service-connected disabilities. The appellant is denied DIC benefits, survivors pension benefits, and accrued benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for flat feet due to a duty to assist error in obtaining missing private treatment records from Columbus Foot & Ankle. The Veteran is asked to provide releases for any relevant records and to identify other care providers who may have additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected left and right upper extremity carpel tunnel syndrome have resulted in effective loss of use in both hands, which meets the criteria for financial assistance with an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for psychiatric disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, gastrointestinal disability, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral pes planus and a skin disability due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is being examined for aggravation by combat boots, while his skin disability needs an opinion on its cause.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to the lack of a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for patellofemoral pain of the right knee and right knee arthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome were also denied as there is no evidence showing that his conditions are related to service or secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for back disability and GERD as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability and OSA, respectively. Service connection for plantar fasciitis is denied due to lack of current diagnosis.,The Veteran's low back pain developed secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. His GERD symptoms are linked to his service-connected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and bronchial asthma.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding no current disability and no nexus to service.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis, left shoulder strain (rotator cuff tendinitis), and lumbosacral strain are not service-connected. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is also not service-connected.,An initial rating of 20 percent for cervical strain was granted effective March 31, 2022.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including chronic blood infection, lumbar spine disability, diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes), hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, prostate cancer, right knee disability, and right foot disability. The claims are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral foot disability, neck disability, and right knee disability due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA need to be confirmed, and etiological opinions are required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and incomplete evidence.

The Veteran's claims for erectile dysfunction and sinusitis have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities related to these conditions. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of erectile dysfunction or sinusitis, nor has he been treated for these conditions.,The Veteran's claims for bronchitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), headaches with fatigue, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), right shoulder disability, bilateral foot disability, and right knee disability have not been addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, right ankle Achilles tendonitis, and left ankle Achilles tendonitis have been granted. However, the issues of service connection for left ankle Achilles tendonitis are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee, left knee, right foot, left foot, right hip, and left hip disabilities due to a lack of adequate medical opinions addressing causation and aggravation.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including bilateral vision loss, hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, tinnitus, right neck lesion, shoulder disabilities, carpal tunnel syndrome and wrist pain, lumbar spine disability, colon disability with associated abdominal scar, and foot disabilities. The reasons given include lack of evidence showing the conditions were present during or within one year after service, no credible link to service, and failure to show continuity of symptoms.

The Board has denied an increased rating for bilateral pes planus and remanded the issues of service connection for left foot, right foot, sleep apnea, left hip, right hip, tooth condition, and left shoulder conditions.,Additional examinations are needed to address pre-decisional duty to assist errors in the claims for service connection for left foot, right foot, and left shoulder conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's preexisting pes planus was not aggravated by military service, and there is no probative evidence of current chronic fatigue syndrome or current erectile dysfunction.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition was aggravated by his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the RO failing to address his claims of CUE in the February 2005 rating decision regarding initial noncompensable ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis, right retropatellar pain syndrome, left retropatellar pain syndrome, and left foot bunionectomy.